Convicted of misappropriating millions of dollars in church funds, the six City Harvest Church lawbreaking figures have since been permanently barred from having anything at all to do with charities. No duh.
The Office of the Commissioner of Charities (COC) issued a statement about the need to protect charitable assets from the six convicts — they can no longer control or manage the administration of any charity.
The named individuals include City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee, deputy senior pastor Tan Ye Peng, former CHC finance committee member John Lam, former CHC fund manager Chew Eng Han and former CHC finance managers Serina Wee and Sharon Tan. Other than Chew (who asked for a deferment during a pending appeal), all of them started serving their prison sentences on April 21.
“Pursuant to section 27(1)(a) of the Act, the Six Convicted Individuals are thus permanently disqualified, under operation of law, from being a governing board member or key officer of a charity or a trustee for a charity as they have been convicted of offences involving dishonesty or deception,” the COC wrote in its statement. Savage.
Nonetheless, the individuals will be allowed to perform their religious duties, and the services of City Harvest Church’s charity can continue as usual. It’s just that the former won’t be allowed to have anything to do with the latter.
“My office will not tolerate any mismanagement or misconduct in the administration of a charity, and will not hesitate to take action against those responsible,” said Commissioner of Charities Dr Ang Hak Seng.
